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| UEFA, Champions League |
The full list of clubs that will compete in the league stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League has been confirmed, featuring many of Europe’s biggest teams alongside several less familiar names.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain head the line-up, joined by traditional powerhouses such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal and Barcelona.
England will have a strong representation with five clubs: Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Aston Villa. Spain also has five teams in the competition — Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Real Betis and Villarreal.
Germany is represented by Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Stuttgart, while Italy’s contingent includes Inter Milan, AS Roma, Napoli and Como (making their Champions League debut).
Portugal will be represented by Sporting CP and Porto, and the Netherlands by PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord. French sides Lille and RC Lens complete the major league contingent alongside PSG.
Other notable clubs include Turkish giants Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, Belgian champions Club Brugge, Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, and Norwegian clubs Bodø/Glimt and Viking. The list is rounded out by Slavia Praha (Czech Republic), Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia), AEK Athens (Greece), LASK (Austria), and Azerbaijan’s Sabah.
Full list of the 36 clubs:
Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, AS Roma, Sporting CP, Aston Villa, Porto, Manchester United, Club Brugge, Real Betis, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord, Lille, Bodø/Glimt, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Fenerbahçe, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray, Slavia Praha, Slovan Bratislava, Stuttgart, AEK Athens, LASK, Como, RC Lens, Viking and Sabah.
Under the current Champions League format, the 36 teams will compete in a single league phase. Each club will play eight matches against eight different opponents — four at home and four away. The teams will be ranked in one overall table.
The top eight sides at the end of the league phase will qualify directly for the round of 16. Clubs finishing between 9th and 24th will enter a knockout play-off round, while those placed 25th to 36th will be eliminated from European competition for the season.
The league phase is scheduled to begin in September 2026, with the final matchday expected in late January 2027. The draw for the league stage fixtures is set to take place shortly after the confirmation of the full list of participants.
This expanded 36-team format continues UEFA’s effort to create a more competitive and commercially attractive competition while giving more clubs from different associations the opportunity to feature on the biggest stage in European club football. Fans of the major clubs will now await the draw to discover their eight opponents for the league phase.
Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, AS Roma, Sporting CP, Aston Villa, Porto, Manchester United, Club Brugge, Real Betis, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord, Lille, Bodø/Glimt, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Fenerbahçe, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray, Slavia Praha, Slovan Bratislava, Stuttgart, AEK Athens, LASK, Como, RC Lens, Viking and Sabah.
Under the current Champions League format, the 36 teams will compete in a single league phase. Each club will play eight matches against eight different opponents — four at home and four away. The teams will be ranked in one overall table.
The top eight sides at the end of the league phase will qualify directly for the round of 16. Clubs finishing between 9th and 24th will enter a knockout play-off round, while those placed 25th to 36th will be eliminated from European competition for the season.
The league phase is scheduled to begin in September 2026, with the final matchday expected in late January 2027. The draw for the league stage fixtures is set to take place shortly after the confirmation of the full list of participants.
This expanded 36-team format continues UEFA’s effort to create a more competitive and commercially attractive competition while giving more clubs from different associations the opportunity to feature on the biggest stage in European club football. Fans of the major clubs will now await the draw to discover their eight opponents for the league phase.